Late last week, we reluctantly handed over more than 3,000 confidential e-mails to BP, as part of a subpoena from the oil company demanding access to them because of the Deepwater Horizon disaster lawsuit brought by the US government. We are accused of no crimes, nor are we party to the lawsuit. We are two scientists at an academic research institution who responded to requests for help from BP and government officials at a time of crisis.
Because there are insufficient laws and legal precedent to shield independent scientific researchers, BP was able to use the federal courts to gain access to our private information. Although the presiding judge magistrate recognized the need to protect confidential e-mails to avoid deterring future research, she granted BP’s request.
Comments
Unfortunately this item will not get the attention it deserves. It is another reminder of the unbridled power wielded by multi-national corporations over individuals and the legal system itself. These two scientists responded to an unprecedented crisis in a heroic and selfless manner and this is their reward from the beneficent, smiling folks at BP. This is payback for science trying to speak truth to power.
Big oil is at it again, using all its money to subvert science and manipulate the courts.
This is incredibly disturbing. I am amazed that the court allowed BP to access WHOI research and private e-mails...the abuse of scientists and the scientific process is nothing less than the DISenlightenment of our civilization.
Maybe the hope of BP is to convince the jury that the spill never actually happend at all! They'll use the emails to cast doubt on the disaster altogether. I can hear it now, "So if Sammy Sientist isn't sure that about the number,was it a million gallons or two million gallons, how can we be sure, how can you be confident your Honor, that this spill even happened at all?